ASTM E3110/E3110M-22

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3110/E3110M − 22
Standard Test Method for
Collection of Ballistic Limit Data for Ballistic-resistant Torso
Body Armor and Shoot Packs
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE3110/E3110M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope specifications” and for specifying any requirements that super-
sede those of this test method.
1.1 This test method addresses the collection of ballistic
1.7 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
limit data for ballistic-resistant torso body armor and shoot
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
packs.
values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equiva-
1.2 This test method is intended for testing of soft body
lents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each
armor, hard armor plates, and shoot packs. This test method
system shall be used independently of the other, and values
does not apply to ballistic helmets.
from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.3 This test method describes procedures for collecting
1.7.1 The user of this standard will identify the system of
data and does not specify computation or performance criteria
units to be used, and it is critical to ensure that any cross-
for the ballistic limit. Instructions for computation and perfor-
referenced standards maintain consistency of units between
mance criteria are specified in other standards and specifica-
standards.
tions.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.4 Several commonly used test item mounting procedures safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
and ballistic limit procedures are included in this test method; responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
certifiers, purchasers, and other users will specify the proce- priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
dures to be used. mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.5 This test method does not address conditioning of test
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
items.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.6 It is anticipated that this test method will be referenced
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
by certifiers, purchasers, or other users to meet their specific
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
needs.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.6.1 Certifier, purchasers, and other users will specify and
2. Referenced Documents
describe the ballistic test threats to be used. Within this test
method, the reference will be called the “test threats docu-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ment.”
B209/B209M Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-
1.6.2 Certifiers, purchasers, and other users will provide
Alloy Sheet and Plate
specific instructions for the determination of complete penetra-
E3004 Specification for Preparation and Verification of Clay
tions or partial penetrations.
BlocksUsedinBallistic-ResistanceTestingofTorsoBody
1.6.3 In this test method, “other standards and specifica-
Armor
tions” and “unless specified elsewhere” refer to documents (for
E3005 Terminology for Body Armor
example, military standards, purchase specifications) that re-
E3062/E3062M Specification for Indoor Ballistic Test
quire the use of this test method. Certifiers, purchasers, and
Ranges for Small Arms and Fragmentation Testing of
other users are responsible for the “other standards and
Ballistic-resistant Items
E3086 Practice for CreatingAppliques for Use in Testing of
Nonplanar Soft Body Armor Designed for Females
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on
Homeland Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
E54.04 on Public Safety Equipment. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published November 2022. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2018. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as E3110/E3110M – 20. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/E3110_E3110M-22. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3110/E3110M − 22
2.2 U.S. Army Research Laboratory: 6. Test Equipment and Apparatus
ARL-TN-437 LangMod Users Manual
6.1 Test threats shall be specified in a separate test threats
2.3 Department of Defense Standards:
document.
MIL-STD-662F V Ballistic Test for Armor
6.2 The ballistic test range shall meet the requirements of
2.4 Department of Justice Standards:
Specification E3062/E3062M.
NIJ Standard–0101.06 Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body
6.2.1 The method of measuring yaw may be with a yaw
Armor
card, flash radiography, high speed video, or photography and
2.5 ISO Standards:
shall be capable of determining, at the point of measurement,
ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence
whether the angle of yaw was greater or less than 5°.
of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
6.3 When clay blocks are required to be used as backing
assemblies behind test items, they shall meet the requirements
3. Terminology
of Specification E3004.
3.1 For terms not defined in this test method, the following
6.4 Fortestproceduresrequiringthetestitemtobemounted
definitions of Terminology E3005 apply: angle of incidence,
in a frame, the frame shall consist of two layers of metal
applique, backing assembly, backing material, backing fixture,
between which the test item is secured.
ballistic limit, body armor, complete penetration, fair hit, gate,
6.4.1 The frame shall be of sufficient size to allow restraint
hard armor, obliquity, partial penetration, plates, shoot pack,
of the test item during ballistic impact. The frame, supports,
shot-to-edge distance, shot-to-shot distance, soft body armor,
clamps, and mounting fixtures shall be capable of securely
stop, strike face, test item, test series, unfair hit, V,V ,
x 50
retaining the test item and withstanding shock resulting from
warmer round, yaw, and zone of mixed results (ZMR).
ballistic impact by the test projectiles.
6.4.2 Additional frame details, such as frame size and
4. Summary of Test Method
clamping force, are provided in other standards and specifica-
4.1 This test method specifies multiple methods for ballistic
tions.
limit testing, which are designed to estimate the penetration
6.5 When required by some test procedures, a witness panel
resistance of soft body armor, hard armor, or shoot packs.
shall be used to determine whether a complete penetration has
4.2 The test method also specifies multiple methods for
occurred.
mounting test items.Atest item is either mounted on a backing
6.5.1 Thewitnesspanelshallbeatleast305 mmby305mm
assembly with clay backing material or mounted in a frame
[12 in. by 12 in.].
with a separate witness panel.
NOTE 1—The witness panel may be larger to allow for impact by all
4.3 Projectiles are fired at the test item starting at a specified
fragments resulting from projectile penetration.
velocity, with subsequent projectiles incrementally increasing
6.5.2 For opaque test items, the witness panel shall be a
or decreasing in velocity based on each shot outcome (com-
0.50 mm 6 0.08 mm [0.020 in. 6 0.003 in.] thick sheet of
plete penetration or partial penetration). This information is 7
2024-T3, 2024-T4, or 5052 aluminum alloy.
subsequently used to calculate the ballistic limit.
7. Hazards
5. Significance and Use
7.1 The ballistic tests described in this test method have
5.1 U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of
inherent hazards.Adequate safeguards for personnel and prop-
Justice standards require ballistic limit determination for as-
erty shall be employed when conducting these tests.
sessing the performance of ballistic-resistant body armor.
8. Sampling and Test Items
5.2 This test method may be used by private-sector and
government laboratories, manufacturers, research and develop-
8.1 Thetestitemsshallbeindividualsoftarmorpanels,hard
ment organizations, and others assessing the ballistic resistance
armor plates, or shoot packs.
of body armor or performing research and development of new
8.2 Test item details, including quantity, size, and
materials.
conditioning, shall be specified in other standards and specifi-
5.3 Itisintendedthatthistestmethodbereferencedbyother
cations.
standards, specifications, and test methods.
NOTE 2—It is recommended that spare test items be provided.
9. Test Requirements
Available from U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Rd.,
9.1 Unless otherwise specified, each ballistic impact shall
Adelphi, MD 20783-1138, https://www.arl.army.mil.
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
meet the requirements listed below to be considered a fair hit.
Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://
9.1.1 The test threat shall impact the test item at an angle
www.access.gpo.gov.
5 ≤5° from the intended angle.
AvailablefromNationalInstituteofJustice(NIJ),8107thSt.,NW,Washington,
DC 20531, http://nij.gov.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Specifications for these alloys may be found in Specification B209/B209M or
Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org. equivalent international specifications.
E3110/E3110M − 22
9.1.2 The test threat shall have yaw verified using a yaw 10.2 The test item shall be held in contact with the clay
card, flash radiography, high speed video, or photography.Yaw block (and appliques if present) and secured using approxi-
shall be checked for every test threat shot and shall be≤3° for mately51 mmto76mm[2 in.to3in.]wideelasticstraps,held
rifle threats or ≤5° for fragment and handgun threats. closed by hook-and-loop fasteners. Unless otherwise specified,
9.1.2.1 The yaw measurement equipment shall be posi- twoverticalandthreehorizontalstrapsshallbepositionedsuch
tioned perpendicular to the projectile line of flight. The yaw that they do not interfere with the impact points on the test
measurement equipment shall be securely mounted and an- item. Fig. 1 shows examples of strapping arrangements.
chored to maintain its required position and alignment.
10.3 The clay block shall be positioned to achieve proper
9.1.2.2 When photographic means are used to assess the
projectile impact location and angle (for example, angle of
projectile yaw angle, the assessment shall be made as close as
incidence, obliquity) of the test threat. For any shots requiring
practical to the strike face of the test item but not more than
a nonzero angle of incidence, the clay block shall be rotated to
305 mm [12 in.] from the front of the strike face.
achieve the appropriate angle.
9.1.2.3 When yaw cards are used to assess the projectile
10.4 Between test threat impacts, the test item shall be
yaw angle, unless specified elsewhere, the cards shall be
manipulated by hand so that any wrinkles or bunching in the
positioned between 91 cm and 152 cm [3 ft to 5 ft] from the
test item (caused by a previous shot) are smoothed out.
front of the strike face of the test item.
10.4.1 No effort shall be made to recover any projectiles
9.1.3 The test threat shall impact the test item no closer to
trapped in the test item until the test series is complete.
the edge of the test item than the minimum shot-to-edge
distance. The measurement for shot-to-edge distance shall be
NOTE 5—Slight manipulation of a projectile is allowed if the projectile
taken from the center of the projectile impact to the nearest will interfere with subsequent shots.
edge of the ballistic material in the test item. Other standards
10.4.2 The test item shall be repositioned on the backing
and specifications shall specify the minimum shot-to-edge
material such that the test item is supported by smooth backing
distance.
material for a distance of no less than 76 mm [3 in.] in all
directions around the next shot location.
NOTE 3—Procedures for determining the edge of the test item should be
10.4.3 Instructions related to striking the backing material
specified in other standards or specifications.
between shots shall be specified by other standards and
9.1.4 Forintendededgeshots,thetestthreatshallimpactthe
specifications.
test item no further from the edge than the maximum shot-to-
edge distance.
11. Mounting and Positioning of Hard Armor Test Items
9.1.5 The test threat shall impact the test item no closer to a
on a Clay Block
prior impact than the minimum shot-to-shot distance. The
measurement for shot-to-shot distance shall be taken from the
11.1 The test item shall be positioned on a clay block such
center of one projectile impact to the center of another. When
that the entire test item is supported.
the minimum shot-to-shot distance is not specified elsewhere,
11.2 Testing of nonplanar hard armor test items on a clay
the minimum shot-to-shot distance shall be 51 mm [2 in.].
block requires the use of appliques between the test item and
NOTE 4—For test items designed to defeat a single shot only, the the clay block.
minimum shot-to-shot distances discussed in this test method do not
NOTE 6—Testing of planar hard armor test items does not require the
apply.
use of appliques. The applique details of this section may also apply for
9.1.6 When assessing whether a particular impact location
nonplanar soft armor that requires the use of appliques between the test
meets the minimum shot-to-shot distance requirements, the item and the clay block.
shot-to-shot distances shall be measured from that impact
11.2.1 The applique shall conform to the wear face of the
location to the nearest impact locations.
test item and create a planar surface for the test item to contact
the surface of the clay block.
9.2 Whenwarmerroundsarenecessary,atestthreatshallbe
fired through the projectile firing system to determine the exact
NOTE 7—Practice E3086 specifies how to create appliques for nonpla-
pointofimpact.Additionaltestthreatsshallbefiredasrequired
nar armor intended for females.
until the proper alignment and a stable velocity have been
11.2.2 The applique shall be formed such that it co
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